Resource and Learning site for those who are learning to speak Haitian Creole.

Bonjou! Learn to Speak Haitian Creole

Bonjou! ...Mèsi! ...E Orevwa! Check out our Audio bits. Do as many exercises as you need. Take an online QUIZ and get your answers right away. Finish a crossword puzzle. Reinforce your learning with the Audio/Video exercises. Search for English or Haitian Creole words translation. Also search the whole site for expressions, idioms and grammar rules. And ask questions about the language in the ASK QUESTIONS HERE section.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Does 'raje' translates 'empty land', 'empty lot' or 'empty green space'? Creole lingo gives definitions like 'backwoods', 'field', 'forest', etc. which could be used in the following context, but I am not sure. For example, "Back in the fifties, this neighborhood used to be nothing but empty land(or land)." or "Back then, this part of the beach, used to be an empty lot before they build a store there." Does 'raje' translates 'wasteland' as well? For example, "Ten years of drought had left the area a wasteland" Because I would hear Haitians used 'raje' for wasteland. If it is not the case, than what are some approriate words for 'wasteland'?

2 comments:

In Haitian Creole, a “raje” is an area, big or small, covered with bushes. So, an English translation for “raje” is bush or thicket.Backwoods: a) as a remote place: peyi pèdi, zòn byen lwen, ziltik. b) as a remote culturally undeveloped place, for countryside: andeyò.Wasteland: a) as a barren area of land: tè or teren dezole, tè or teren deseche, tè or teren arid, tè or teren ki pa kiltive. b) as an abandoned area (no more occupied or cultivated): tè or teren abandone, zòn abandone.Forest: rakbwa